THE YEAR IN SPORT 2016
Warragul and District Junior Football League claimed one of the two titles on offer at the Gippsland Junior Interleague Football championships. While the under 12 team went down to Bairnsdale, the WDJFL didn’t go home empty handed, defeating Alberton in a hotly contested under 14 grand final.
Local Sebastian Barr was one of 3000 athletes from 39 countries who gathered in London for the 14th World Ultimate Flying Disc championships. The Australian men’s Dingoes team won the bronze medal.
Tonimbuk’s Matt Williams hoped for third time lucky when he embarked on his showjumping campaign as member of the Australian team at the Olympic games in Rio. The former Marist Sion student, who began riding at the age of three, previously competed in Beijing and London.
The Balfour Trophy returned to Hill End Football Netball Club for the first time in 12 years when the Hill End senior side beat Trafalgar.
A big crowd was on hand to witness Hill End win by 21 points, 11-12 (78) to 8-9 (57).
The Warragul based Wild Dog Triathlon Club was looking forward to an exciting new season utilising the new swimming facilities.
Four hotly contested grand finals of the Warragul and District and Drouin and District Netball Association were played at the Burke St courts. The premiership teams were Atecs (13 and under), Warranor Jade (15 and under), Gippsland Pumas (18 and under) and Sapphire Magic (open)
The Warriors led the way in West Gippsland Hockey Association, claiming three premierships (under 10, under 14 and under 17). Aztecs won the open women’s and men’s double, while Gulls took out the under 12 pennant.
Warragul rover Brad Scalzo has won this year’s Trood Award and Rodda medal as Gippsland League’s best and fairest.He won a thrilling count, edging out Gulls teammate Nathaniel Paredes for the award.
Thorpdale stormed home to a 13goal win in the Mid Gippsland Netball Association A grade grand final against Mirboo North. Other premiers were Morwell East (B, C and D grades), Trafalgar (17 and under) and Yallourn (15 and under).
In football Newborough broke through in the seniors and under 16s, Yallourn-Yallourn North scored in the Reserves, while Mirboo North made it three in a row in the under 18s.
Buln Buln’s Renee Cook polled 39 votes to win the Ellinbank District Netball Association A grade best and fairest.
Cora Lynn scored a hard fought 23-point win over Bunyip to take its third successive premiership in the Ellinbank District Football League in front of one of the largest crowds in recent seasons.
Warragul seniors’ cricketer Peter Dell has returned home from the Australian over 70s touring test team to the UK. Peter played 13 games in 23 days in his key role as wicketkeeper, with Australia winning 11 games.
Leongatha were dealt premiership heartbreak for the second consecutive season in the Gippsland League, going down to Maffra in the grand final at Moe.
The Drouin Dragons were well represented in this years’ Gippsland Soccer League grand finals, winning two from four. Both the seniors and under 16s won the 2016 final, with the under 12s and under 14s going down.
In Mid Gippsland Badminton Association grand finals, Warragul Black won section three, Ellinbank Blue won section two and Warragul won section one.
After falling in love with the sport of wheelchair rugby and watching the Australians win at the London Paralympic games in 2012, Jayden Warn hoped he one day would be able to experience that feeling. Four years of hard work has paid off for the Drouin athlete, who was part of the Australian team to win gold in Rio following an epic final against the United States that was decided in double overtime.
Warragul District Junior Football League best and fairests were awarded to Thomas Fitzpatrick (under 14) and Vin Caia (under 12).